Putin's Mercenary Wagner Group is Undermining Democracy in Africa at a Time to Support Human Rights
T. David Colgren
CEO/Owner, Colcomgroup, Inc. Consultant > Strategic Planning, Business Development, Government Affairs, Marketing, PR, Media Relations, Social Media and Writing
Call to Action: Congress and the Administration must directly deal with Putin/ Wagner Group head-on to stop their global influence by destabilizing democracy and self-determination of people as outlined under United Nation provisions supporting basic human rights.
Stat/ Fact: While the Wagner Group has operated in as many as 28 countries across the globe, including in Eastern Europe (i.e., Ukraine), the Middle East (i.e., Syria), South America (i.e., Venezuela), and Asia (i.e. Sri Lanka) it has become most visible on the African continent, having deployed to at least 18 African states since 2016. The Wagner Group’s engagement across Africa stands in stark contrast to Russia’s role on the continent in the immediate period after the Cold War.
Analogy: Some labeled this Russia’s “Embassy Identity Crisis” as it tried to reconcile its foreign policy strategy following the fall of the Iron Curtain. The Wagner Group is the ‘tip of the spear’ operations are only part of its repertoire of services, which includes information operations, training, logistical support, weapons transfers, and so on. The diversity of services offered by the Wagner Group has led to its labeling as Russia’s “Swiss Army Knife.”
Background
Wagner Group's activities in Africa have raised concerns by the U.S. government. The Wagner Group is a controversial mercenary military company with alleged ties to Russian’s foreign policy toolkit and more directly Putin. Wagner Group instead seeks to capitalize and profit on insecurity involved in a range of activities, including security services, mining, commerce, and propaganda operations, often in countries where Western influence is limited or challenged (Democracy over Dictatorship). Consequently, the group's activities have raised concerns about human rights abuses, economic exploitation, and destabilization in African countries. Wagner's activity in specific African countries, include the Central African Republic (CAR), Libya, Mali, and Sudan.
The U.S. government has designated the Wagner Group as a Transnational Criminal Organization (TCO) and has imposed sanctions on individuals and entities linked to Wagner. There's also an ongoing debate in Congress about how to address Wagner's activities and their impact on the African continent. Key areas of focus include oversight, the effectiveness of sanctions, potential conditionality on U.S. aid to governments engaging with Wagner, exploring alternatives to Wagner's influence, and understanding African perceptions of U.S. engagement.
National security professionals are very familiar with Wagner Group which includes a multiplicity of actors, both state and non-state alike. This includes Wagner Group’s frequent suppliers of a host of military and security-related services for a wide range of clients, including states, rebel groups, multinational corporations, and even international organizations like the United Nations. And as a direct result -- the “market for force” has swelled since the end of the Cold War, and demand is only increasing unless Congress and the Administration directly deal with Putin and the Wagner Group head-on.
It's also clear that Wagner's presence in Africa has geopolitical implications and raises questions about how the U.S. and other international actors should respond to its activities. Given the complexity of the situation and the varying interests of different African countries, finding effective strategies to address Wagner's influence and its potential consequences is a complex challenge as we speak.
Here are some additional points to consider:
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Conclusion:
In navigating this complex challenge, a collaborative and nuanced approach is vital. It requires a deep understanding of local contexts, careful consideration of unintended consequences, and a commitment to upholding international norms and values. The complexity of countering Wagner's influence and addressing Russian activities in Africa is acknowledged, given the historical sensitivities, sovereignty concerns, and diplomatic challenges involved.
Stay tuned and please provide thoughts or ideas related to this article. Best wishes and thank you for your consideration.
More more details on this article please go to: https://agilitypr.news/Putins-Mercenary-Wagner-Group-is-Underm-35967
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